The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-07-14
TIE DEADLY TORNADO.
LOSSES IN THE UNITED STATES ESTI-
MATED AT S3OO,OOO,OOO.

SScloheS Ill the misSissippi Nalley--lSo' !
II Mild Tornado Year.
The terrible destruction of life and
property by tornadoes at this season
causes much fear in several States. Re-
cent Investigations by Lieutenant John
Z. Finlay, signal service, United States
army, reveal to some extent the danger
IN each region, which will do much to
allay unnecessary alarm in the Eastern
States, At the same time othcr regions
before thought to DO comparatively safe
are found to be moro dangerous than
had been supposed.
The first striking result of the exami-
nation of Lieutenant Finlay's map, show
ing the geographical distribution of tor
nadoes from 1882 to 1856 inclusive is
that they uniformly avoid extended
mountain ranges. The Rocky Noun
talns present SO insurmouDt table barri-
or that the country lying west of this
great range IS almost entirely free from
the long, violent tornado tracts seen in
Kansas and Missouri. 1t is known that
storm centers which form west Of the
Kocky Mountains are imperfectly de-
veloped, and are not persistent or vio-
lent IN their course until the Mississippi
valley is reached. Tornadocs form at an
average distance Of l53 miles southeast
OF the main storm center, as shown in
forty-one cases cited by Professor Ii. a.
Hazen, Of tho signal service. 1t follows
that the cold air from the foot of the
Rocky Mountains, coming in the wake
OF and eastward moving storm manifest
ing unusually low barometer, causes
sharp contrasts of temperature in Kansas
and Missouri, and these contrasts, some
times as much as fifty degrees, result in
great tornado frequency in northwestern
Missouri and northern Kansas. 1t is
further shown by the distribution of
tornado tracts that the average of severi-
ty and destruction steadily lessons as the
storm centers move eastward, from tho
Mississippi valley. This waning of tor
nado power is gradual, but the danger
does not entirely cease as the Atlantic
coast is approached. The coast lines of
the Gulf of Mexico and Of the Atlantic
ocean arc nearly free from tornadocs,
because great contrasts ACCOMMODATING
storm centers cannot develop, owing to
the equalizing effect of the ocean tom
peraturc and moisture.
IN TIE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
OF the total number of tornadocs re-
ported nearly one half occur in the Mis-
sisslppi valley, which is The region OF
greatest violence. The lapse of time
must make this even moro marked, be-
cause the records Of tho Eastern States
cover much longer period, while the
number OF tOrnadOcs is less. The region
of greatest frequency is along the north
and west boundary lines of Missouri, in
creasing toward the point Of intersection.
Then comes northwestern Georgia cX-
tending into Alabama. A very solid and
compact region of tornado development
is in southern Michigan, tending toward
the lower part of Lake Michigan. For
distance Of about 200 miles square, this
region nearly equals that of Kansas in
frequency, though it has not moro than
onc-tenth its extent and its average Sc
verify is far less. In the Eastern States,
the most remarkable region next to |
western New York. is in the Connecticut
river valley, which seems to be persist
emily followed by tornadocs through
Connecticut and Massachusetts into New
hampshire. Tho open country here
favOrs the development of small lorna
do with tract about n mile or half n
mile long, and from two hundred to five
hundred feet in width. Western Con-
necticut and Massachusetts favor the |
accumulation of warm air from the |
southwest, which moves steadily north |
ward, while Pennsylvania, Virginia and |
western Delaware remain cool, this |
causing sharp contrasts of temperature.
In southeastern Pennsylvania tho bend |
of the Delaware river there is group of |
tornadocs centering near Trenton, n. j. |
Southeast OF Lakes Erie and Ontario |
there is also lively region, which is an |
extension due to the still high contrasts
OF temperature common in the NIissis- |
slppl valley and southeastern Michigan. |
In northeastern Mississippi there is
very marked extension of tho Georgia |
and Alabama region, though not quite
equaling it in frequency.
LOSSES OF LIFE AND PROPERTY,
The value Of property reported to the
signal service as destroyed in 205 years
years was about $28, 600, 900. Lieutenant
Einlay estimates this to be about one
tenth the actual value, making the total |
losses about $500, 1000.
The number of deaths reported was
3, l65, and the injured 5,Ol9.
These figures are doubtless much be-
low the actual damage, because tornado
reports include the main facts only. Tho |
transmission of nows is partly o6struct-
cd, and isolated regions escape report. |
The comparison of number of torna-
does, with the amount of forest land by
States, according to the United States
census, indicates that these storms are
not appreciatcly influenced by the pres
ence or absence of forests. Tornadocs
arc caused by the persistent movement
and accumulation of air masses on an |
immense scale. Forests and other local
features of landscape have little effect |
The signal service reported $50 lorna
does for 1886, 1876 for 1885, 200 for 1884, |
lG1 for 1883, and from that time back to |
1870 the number diminishcs to 9. This
does not represent change in the cactual
number, but only indicates additional
facilities for observation, duo to the
steadily increasing interest takon by the
press and people, as well as to tho or
ganization of large staff OF voluntary
tornado reporters in 1881, under tho SUI